14. Cara
Chapter fourteen
Cara
Within minutes, a few snowflakes became heavy snowfall, and about ten minutes later, a strong wind set in.
“I really think we should head back now,” Ellis said, shaking off the snowflakes that had collected on his hair and shoulder.
“We can’t go back.”
“It’s not worth it. We can visit the waterfalls another day, Cara.”
“That’s not what I meant. We’re at least an hour and a half away from the ranch, probably more. It’s too dangerous to try that distance in this kind of weather. This could turn into a proper snowstorm within minutes. We need to take shelter.”
Ellis looked around, squinting his eyes. Deep forest surrounded us on one side and gray mountain cliffs on the other. “Take shelter where?”
“I think there’s a cabin that way. Behind those trees up on those hills,” I said, trying to suppress the shivering of my lips. The temperature had dropped significantly, and my jacket was too thin to shield me from the cold.
“Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Pretty sure?”
“I’m not a trapper. Riding is just a weekend hobby for me, Ellis. But if we are where I think we are, the cabin is up that hill. It’s our best shot.”
“Fine. I don’t have any better ideas.”
“I’ll lead the way, but be careful. The ground can be slippery with so much fresh snow.”
“Tell that to Jupiter,” Ellis mumbled.
The next few minutes were the most uncomfortable I’d ever spent on horseback.
My face and hands felt numb from the unrelenting, icy wind. Marigold was restless too. The snow wasn’t deep yet, but it was enough to make her struggle with her footing, and I was even more worried about Ellis behind me.
I’d made a careless decision. Both Wyatt and Callum had warned us about the weather, but I pushed on because I wanted to show Ellis that stupid, romantic waterfall.
Taking an inexperienced rider that far away from the safety of the ranch when the weather already showed signs of changing was very irresponsible. And we didn’t even have proper gear with us.
As the biting cold pierced through my clothes, my mind raced with visions of us freezing to death or tumbling off a treacherous cliff, but then the log cabin appeared between the pines.
I’d only been there once before, with Terry. He’d told me his grandfather had built it, so it was old and weathered, but it had four walls and a roof and even a small stable, more shed than barn. Better than nothing.
We tied up our horses in the barn and took their saddles off to make them more comfortable. Marigold looked at me with reproach, but the cabin was way too small to fit two horses inside, so it was either the shed or the snow outside.
After we unsaddled the horses, we hurried back to the cabin. The snow was up to our ankles already, and the wind was howling through the trees.
Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked.
Relieved, we stumbled inside, and Ellis closed the door behind us, shutting out the wind and cold.
“Much better,” he said. “But a bit smelly.”
I playfully punched his shoulder. “I’m sorry our refuge isn’t up to your standards, you spoiled brat.”
With a laugh, he gently shoved me into the cabin’s living room, the worn wooden floor creaking beneath our feet. “Come on. Let’s get comfortable.”
The inside of the cabin was dark, dusty, and almost as cold as the outside.
There was a small kitchen nook with a vintage-looking black stove, a table with mismatched chairs, and a half-burned candle. A rocking chair with a quilted blanket on the backrest stood in the corner, and a worn-down leather love seat faced a large stone fireplace. And Ellis was right: it smelled a bit musty.
“Do we have something to light a fire with?” Ellis asked.
“Let’s check the kitchen cabinets.”
We dug through a lot of useless kitchen utensils before I pried open a stuck drawer with my frozen fingers and found a half-empty box of matches.
Ellis kneeled down and checked the fireplace. “We’re in luck. There’s wood, and it’s dry. Do we have something to start a fire with?”
“Wait a second. I found a newspaper in one of the cabinets.”
Moments later, I returned to Ellis with a newspaper from 1998 in hand.
“Do you know how to start a fire?” I asked him.
“What do you think?” he said with a raised brow. “But how hard can it be?”
“Maybe I should do it. I learned that once upon a time when I was a Girl Scout.”
“Be my guest.”
He handed me the matchbox and stepped away.
We had eight matches left, and I needed five of them to get the fire going, but eventually, the flames were crackling in the fireplace, and the small cabin quickly warmed up.
With a sigh of relief, I fell onto the creaky leather sofa. “Okay, I think we’re going to be alright.”
Ellis warmed his hands at the fire for a moment before he sat down next to me.
“I feel like a settler, fresh off the Oregon Trail,” he said, taking my hands into his to warm them up.
Too exhausted to hold on to my reservations, I allowed myself to enjoy his touch. “I don’t think those settlers had such soft, manicured hands, though.”
He frowned but couldn’t hide a grin completely. “Are you saying I’m not manly enough?”
“No, you’re plenty manly.” I couldn’t resist the temptation of his warm body right next to mine and scooched closer to cuddle up against him. “For warmth,” I explained.
He smiled at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Of course. For warmth,” he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.
I melted into the embrace, the scent of his cologne mingling with the smoky smell of the burning firewood. Feeling his strong body against mine was comforting and exciting at the same time.
It was the perfect moment. The wind rattled against the window, the crackling fire warmed us, and the flickering flames cast a warm, golden glow across the cabin. The outside world and all its troubles faded away, and all that remained was us in that rustic little cabin.
As Ellis rested his head against mine, I made a decision. I would take this moment and make it mine. I would allow myself a few hours of pleasure before entering the real world again.
Emboldened, I stood up and opened the zipper of my winter coat.
“Is the fire too warm? Are you feeling hot?” Ellis asked with a look of surprise on his face.
“No, but I will be. And so will you.”
The way his expression changed when he realized what I’d just said was almost comical. As soon as my words registered in his mind, he jumped up and shed his jacket within seconds.
He basically lunged toward me, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
“Just to be clear,” I said. “What happens in the cabin stays in the cabin. Understood?”
He straightened his shoulders and looked down at me, passion burning in his eyes. “No.”
“That’s the rule, Ellis. I—”
Before I could protest any further, his lips were on mine, and his hands were already under my sweater. His cool fingertips felt electric against my warm skin.
My hips ground into his almost on their own accord. I pushed him back until the backs of his knees hit the couch and he fell down.
I followed him, straddling his lap, and threw off my sweater. As soon as it was gone, he leaned forward to plant kisses on my exposed skin, making me sigh with pleasure.
Desperate to return the favor, I pulled off his shirt, revealing his athletic body. The sight made me pause.
His heart might still have been the same, but his body certainly had changed since we were last with each other. Once slender and wiry, he was now broad shouldered and muscular. I leaned back to admire the view for a brief moment before he pulled me back in for a kiss.
His hands wandered up and down my back, stopping for only a few seconds to firmly grab my butt. I felt him fiddle with my bra, and before I knew it, my breasts were exposed. Despite the warmth the fire was spreading throughout the cabin, my nipples were hard pebbles.
Ellis’s hands left my back to cup my breasts, and I leaned into his caress, closing my eyes, enjoying the waves of warm pleasure washing over my body.
God, it had been so long since he last touched me like that, since any man touched me like that. I had almost forgotten how good it felt to be desired.
I opened my eyes long enough to open his jeans and pull them down. He groaned in relief as his erection sprang free. The sight made me want to go straight to business, but another part of me held back. I wanted to savor the moment, to take every ounce of pleasure before we had to reemerge into the world.
I splayed my hands against his muscular chest and gently raked my fingernails down his stomach before I let a single finger travel along his length, all the way from the base to the tip.
With a groan, he closed his eyes and let his head fall back.
For a short while, he let me explore him freely, but far too soon, he grabbed hold of my wrist.
“You need to stop, or this will be over soon.”
I grinned. “That would be a shame.”
“Your turn now.” He leaned forward and gently pushed me off his lap until I was standing before him, between his knees.
The feather-soft kisses he planted along my stomach made me shiver in anticipation. Finally, he unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down. Panties went next, then I stood in front of him completely naked. The fire warmed my backside, and Ellis’s kisses on my thighs heated the rest of my body.
He pressed his lips against my center, and my head rolled back. I could take only a few minutes of his caress before the pleasure building between my legs became so strong that I grew dizzy.
I pushed his head away to lie down on the couch, letting my knees fall open invitingly.
Ellis didn’t waste any time. Within seconds, he was on top of me, his hard length pressing against me.
His fingers intertwined with mine as he gazed into my eyes. “Cara…” His voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
I glanced down between us. “I think I have an idea, yes.”
He smiled a half smile. “Not there,” he said before taking my hand and placing it on his chest. “Here.”
His words made my heart flutter. I knew I shouldn’t revel in them. This was supposed to be just for pleasure, physical relief from the tension that had built up between us since he showed up in town. But how could I not swoon when he said such perfect things
No wonder younger Cara had fallen head over heels for him.
I needed to get us back on track before emotions overwhelmed me, so I rolled my hips against him, drawing a deep groan from him.
He understood my wordless plea and placed himself at my entrance. I grasped his shoulder in anticipation.
A split second before we united, a thought shot through my head. Instinctively, I scooted away.
Ellis looked at me, eyes full of concern. “Is everything alright? Did I hurt you?”
I swallowed hard. “You don’t happen to have a condom with you?”
Ellis closed his eyes and exhaled. “No. I rarely seduce women on trail rides.”
I let my head fall back onto the couch cushion. “Damn it.”
He was right there, naked, on top of me, just inches away, but I could not have him. I might be irresponsible enough to have sex with the ex I had sworn to stay away from, but I was not irresponsible enough to risk another unexpected pregnancy.
Ellis sat up on his heels and looked down at me, his eyes still full of desire. “What a shame.”
He let out a long sigh before he got up and put his underwear back on. The sight of his naked body in the firelight was tantalizing, and I silently cursed my lack of foresight. But then again, who goes on a trail ride with condoms in their saddlebag?
What a shame, indeed. That was our golden opportunity to be with each other again, but I couldn’t take the risk, no matter how much my body tingled when I looked at Ellis.
“What now?” he asked, plopping back down on the couch. “Are we going to pretend it never happened, like last time?”
I rolled my eyes and punched him in the shoulder. “Don’t give me this attitude. It’s not my fault.”
He leaned his head back and stared into the fire for a moment. “Why do you keep pushing me away?” he asked.
I huffed. “I’m not pushing you away. But we can’t—”
“Go on a date with me, then.”
“What?”
“Go on a proper date with me.”
“Ellis, you know this is a bad idea. Don’t be silly.”
He turned his head toward me to look at me, his eyes pleading silently. “Maybe it is a bad idea, but I don’t care. If loving you is silly, then I’m more than happy to make a fool out of myself every day for the rest of my life.”
Unprepared for the sudden onslaught of emotion his words caused me, I froze, unable to respond. “Ellis…”
“I’m not afraid of saying it out loud, Cara. I love you. I never stopped, and I never will. You can laugh at me, you can stonewall me, you can be angry with me, but I will never stop loving you, and I will never stop trying to convince you to let me love you, now that I finally found you again. Go on a date with me.”
I suddenly realized I was still naked, and despite the warmth of the fire, goosebumps crept up my back. I should say no and laugh it off, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. I wanted Ellis too much, and inside this cabin, where it was just the two of us, all those hurdles and threats that made our love look impossible just hours before were drowned out by the wind still raging outside.
“Fine.”
He perked up. “Fine?”
“I’ll go on a date with you.”
“When? Where?”
“Your pick.”
A smile lit up his face. He exhaled, almost like he was relieved, and pulled me in for a hug. I couldn’t withstand the temptation to kiss him again, but I had to break the contact a few seconds later because heat started to pool between my legs again, and I didn’t have the strength to say no to him a second time.
“Are you open to some cuddling?” he asked. “For warmth, of course.”
I grinned. “We need to preserve our body heat.”
Eagerly, Ellis got the quilted blanket from the rocking chair and draped it over our bodies. I nestled up against him, enjoying the feeling of his body against mine, soft and firm at the same time, enjoying the heat of his skin warming me up.
He propped his head on his elbow while his other hand stroked my hair.
It was a perfect moment. I knew it couldn’t last, so I savored every second of it.